Wadena-Deer Creek School District

600 Colfax Ave Sw
Wadena, MN 56482-0151
(District boundaries shown in map)
5/
10
Bottom 50%

Top Rankings

Wadena-Deer Creek School District ranks among the top 20% of public school district in Minnesota for:

Category
Attribute
Science Proficiency
Highest science proficiency (Top 20%)
For the 2026 school year, there is 1 public middle school serving 470 students in Wadena-Deer Creek School District. This district's average middle testing ranking is 5/10, which is in the bottom 50% of public middle schools in Minnesota.
Public Middle School in Wadena-Deer Creek School District have an average math proficiency score of 28% (versus the Minnesota public middle school average of 40%), and reading proficiency score of 45% (versus the 49% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 13% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the Minnesota public middle school average of 39% (majority Black and Hispanic).

Overview

This School District
This State (MN)
# Schools
3 Schools
1,014 Schools
# Students
1,079 Students
268,621 Students
# Teachers
71 Teachers
17,473 Teachers
Student-Teacher Ratio
15:1
15:1

Student By Grade

District Rank

Wadena-Deer Creek School District, which is ranked within the bottom 50% of all 515 school districts in Minnesota (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data) for the 2022-2023 school year.
The school district's graduation rate of 82% has increased from 80-84% over five school years.
This School District
State Average (MN)
#308 out of 525 school districts
(Bottom 50%)
33%
46%
46%
51%
51%
41%
82%
84%
(2022-23)
18%
27.3%

Students by Ethnicity:

0.25
0.60
% American Indian
2%
2%
% Asian
n/a
7%
% Hispanic
5%
11%
% Black
1%
13%
% White
86%
61%
% Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
% Two or more races
6%
6%
All Ethnic Groups

District Revenue and Spending

The revenue/student of $15,272 in this school district is less than the state median of $17,752. The school district revenue/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $14,925 is less than the state median of $18,474. The school district spending/student has declined by 18% over four school years.
This School District
This State (MN)
Total Revenue
$17 MM
$15,547 MM
Spending
$16 MM
$16,179 MM
Revenue / Student
$15,272
$17,752
Spending / Student
$14,925
$18,474

Best Wadena-Deer Creek School District Public Middle Schools (2026)

School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
Wadena-deer Creek Senior High School
(Math: 28% | Reading: 45%)
Rank:
3/
10
Bottom 50%
600 Colfax Ave Sw
Wadena, MN 56482
(218) 632-2300
Gr: 7-12 | 470 students Student-teacher ratio: 20:1 Minority enrollment: 13%

Recent Articles

Media Literacy as a Core Skill: How to Tell if a School Teaches It Well
Media Literacy as a Core Skill: How to Tell if a School Teaches It Well
Learn how to evaluate whether a public school teaches media literacy effectively, from fact-checking and source evaluation to digital citizenship and critical thinking.
Screen Time, Paper Learning, and the New Back-to-Basics Debate
Screen Time, Paper Learning, and the New Back-to-Basics Debate
Explore why some public schools are reducing screen time, bringing back paper learning, and rethinking the balance between technology and traditional instruction.
Student Data, AI Tools, and Privacy: Questions to Ask Your District
Student Data, AI Tools, and Privacy: Questions to Ask Your District
Learn how public schools use AI, protect student data, and the key privacy questions every parent should ask their school district in 2026.

Quick Facts (2026)

  • District size: 3 schools
  • Grades: PK-12
  • Enrollment: 1,079 students
  • Student-Teacher Ratio: 15:1
  • Minority Enrollment: 14%
  • : 82% (Top 50% in MN)
  • : Bottom 50%
  • : 33% (Btm 50%)
  • : 46% (Btm 50%)
  • : 51% (Top 20%)
  • Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), MN Dept. of Education

Quick Links